Today we’d like to introduce you to Lamaya Jarrell.
Hi Lamaya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into jewelry making started as a creative outlet as a child and slowly grew into something much deeper. I’m the founder of Many Stages LLC, where I design and create handmade beaded jewelry & empowerment apparel (tees) that reflects culture, resilience, and personal growth. As an Afro-Indigenous woman of French Creole-Black and Scandinavian descent with Black Seminole affiliation, my identity and experiences have shaped both my art and the meaning behind it.
Like many entrepreneurs, getting here took a lot of growth, resilience, and self-reflection. Life has taken me through many stages, some joyful and some incredibly challenging. My sobriety journey began on May 28, 2019, and it became the foundation for the life I’m building today. During periods of personal growth and recovery, creating jewelry became a grounding and healing practice for me. What began as something meditative slowly grew into a passion I wanted to share with others.
In 2021, I launched Many Stages LLC. My art is rooted in healing, resilience, and cultural reconnection, blending the time-honored practice of beading with influences from my Afro-Indigenous, French Creole-Black, Black Seminole affiliated, and Scandinavian heritage.
Over time, friends, community members, and customers began connecting with the pieces I was making. People weren’t just buying earrings, they were connecting with my story, the intention, and the spirit behind the work. That encouragement gave me the confidence to turn my creative practice into a small business.
Each piece I create represents different stages of life, growth, and resilience, which is where the name Many Stages comes from. Every piece carries a part of my story of recovery and transformation, and my hope is that it offers others a tangible reminder of strength, cultural pride, and love.
Today, through Many Stages LLC, I share my handmade jewelry at markets, community events, and festivals across Oregon. I’m still growing, learning, and evolving, both as an artist, a mother and as a person. That’s exactly what “Many Stages” represents. Life is a journey, and every stage has something to teach us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. In many ways, my biggest struggle was myself. There were times when I got in my own way, questioning whether my work was good enough or wondering, “What am I even doing?” Starting something new can bring a lot of self-doubt.
But those moments didn’t last long. I would remind myself why I started and tell myself, “Yes, I can do this. I’m going to do this.” My recovery journey has also played a big role in helping me build that confidence and learn to trust myself again.
A big part of my motivation has always been my daughter. I want to show her what it looks like to believe in yourself, take risks, and keep moving forward even when things feel uncertain. I also feel a responsibility to my community. Representation and encouragement matter, and I hope that by sharing my journey, others might see that if I can do it, they can too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Through Many Stages LLC, I create handmade beaded jewelry that reflects culture, resilience, and personal growth. Beading is a time-honored art form, and for me it’s also a way to stay connected to my heritage and express my story through my work. Each piece is carefully made by hand, and I put a lot of intention into the colors, patterns, and designs I create.
I specialize in beaded earrings that carry meaning and symbolism. My work is inspired by my Afro-Indigenous roots, as well as my French Creole-Black, Black Seminole affiliated, and Scandinavian heritage. Blending these influences allows me to create pieces that feel both personal and culturally meaningful.
In addition to jewelry, I design empowerment apparel, including empowerment t-shirts with messages like “It’s Already Alright” and “Progress~Perfection”. These pieces are my way of sharing encouragement and positivity with the community, reminding people that growth is a journey and that it’s okay to celebrate, reminding people that growth is a journey and that it’s okay to celebrate who you are and the person you’re becoming.
What I’m most proud of is turning something that began as a healing practice into a small business that connects with people in my community. Seeing someone light up when they find a pair of earrings or a shirt that speaks to them is incredibly rewarding.
I think what sets my work apart is the story behind it. My jewelry and apparel aren’t just accessories—they’re expressions of resilience, identity, and the different stages we all go through in life. Every piece carries intention and reflects the journey that inspired the name Many Stages.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If I could give advice to anyone just starting out, it would be this: **trust yourself, even when it feels scary, and take the first step anyway.** So much of the struggle in the beginning comes from self-doubt, second-guessing, and waiting for the “perfect moment”, that moment almost never comes.
When I was starting out, I wish I had known that **your unique story, your experiences, and your perspective are your biggest strengths**. You don’t have to wait to feel ready. Growth happens when you show up consistently, even imperfectly, and push through the moments where you’re asking yourself, “Can I really do this?”
Also, remember why you started. For me, it was about healing, creativity, and showing my daughter and my community. That you can overcome challenges and build something meaningful. If you can hold on to your purpose and keep showing up for it, the rest begins to fall into place.
You’ll be so proud of yourself!! I promise!!
Pricing:
- Handmade beaded earrings: $5–$50, depending on size and complexity
- Empowerment apparel t-shirts: $35–$40
- Handmade bracelets: $10 each or 3 for $25
- Recovery keychains: $15 each
- I have something for everyone!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://many-stages.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/manystagesjewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18sCxKU8nK/
